South Australian Consolidated Acts

CRIMINAL LAW (SENTENCING) ACT 1988 - SECT 7A

7A—Victim impact statements

        (1)         A person who has suffered injury, loss or damage resulting from an indictable offence committed by another may furnish the trial court with a written personal statement (a "victim impact statement") about the impact of that injury, loss or damage on the person and his or her family.

        (2)         A victim impact statement must comply with and be furnished in accordance with rules of court.

        (3)         The court, on convicting the defendant of the offence—

            (a)         will, if the person so requested when furnishing the statement, allow the person an opportunity to read the statement out to the court; and

            (b)         in any other case, will cause the statement to be read out to the court.

        (3a)         If the court considers there is good reason to do so, it may exercise any of the powers that it has with regard to a vulnerable witness in order to assist a victim who wishes to read out a victim impact statement to the court.

        (4)         The validity of a sentence is not affected by non-compliance or insufficient compliance with this section.